City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Gilbert is cheaper. Median rent is $2,110 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
Safety is where San Francisco and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 136 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,476 in San Francisco and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Gilbert wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Gilbert has rougher pockets and San Francisco has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Francisco and Gilbert are 670 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, down $366 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $122,551 in Gilbert, down $18,419 (13%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 47 in Gilbert, down 136 points (74%).
The move
Gilbert and San Francisco are 670 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $366 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $18,419 (15%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 183 in San Francisco, up 136 points (289%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Gilbert rent is 15% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Gilbert
Winner$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $2,110 a month in Gilbert versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Gilbert is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,392, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Gilbert still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Francisco.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
San Francisco's median income is 15% higher than Gilbert
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Gilbert
$122,551
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $122,551 in Gilbert, so typical pay runs 15% higher in San Francisco (about $18,419 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, San Francisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Gilbert can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
74% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 74% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% lower in Gilbert. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Gilbert is the easier city. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Francisco and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Gilbert is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $2,110 a month. Choose Gilbert if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 74% lower than San Francisco (47 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
San Francisco carries the heavier crime signal on this page (42/100 safety vs 83/100 in Gilbert). That 41-point spread matters more than the $366 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $122,551), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Weather averages land near 65°F in San Francisco and 80°F in Gilbert.
Pick Gilbert when you want the stronger safety signal (83/100). Otherwise, San Francisco's case rests on a San Francisco ZIP you trust at $2,476 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Gilbert, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
